Corona-Norco Unified School District in California and Red Hawk Elementary School in Colorado named national winners

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., June 13, 2012 - Cigna (CI:NYSE) and ChildObesity180 today announced the two national school program winners in their nationwide innovation contest: Corona-Norco Unified School District's "100 Mile Club" in Norco, Calif. and Red Hawk Elementary's "Red Hawk Movement" in Erie, Colo.

The competition was designed to identify and reward the most creative, impactful, and scalable school-based programs and technologies to promote children's physical activity. With the support of Cigna, the Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP), a ChildObesity180 initiative, launched the competition in February 2012 in a commitment with the Partnership for a Healthier America. First Lady Michelle Obama encouraged participation in the competition with a call for applications via a video message.

"The teachers and schools we honor here today remind us that you don't need big budgets or big open spaces to achieve big results. All you need are creative minds, energetic students and teachers who are given the support they need to find a different way," Cigna CEO David M. Cordani said as he addressed the audience at today's awards event.

Teachers, schools and school districts submitted their school-based physical activity programs to the School Programs category, while the Technology Innovation category invited developers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to demonstrate how existing or emerging technologies could be used to inspire kids to be physically active. A panel of experts representing various fields judged the entries. A complete list of judges is available at www.ActiveSchoolsASAP.org.

The National School Programs category winners will receive $100,000 to further advance health and wellness programming in their school or district. The national winners were selected from a pool of nine regional School Programs category winners, who will receive $25,000. The two Technology Innovation Grand Prize winners will receive $50,000 each to advance their technologies.

School Programs Category National Winners:

Corona-Norco Unified School District's 100 Mile Club, Norco, Calif. - Among the many schools nationwide employing running and walking programs, the 100 Mile Club in Corona-Norco, Calif. is a pioneer. Inspired by the 1992 Summer Olympics, special education teacher Kara Lubin had a dream that kids would be motivated to stay fit by the simple goal of "winning the gold medal." These medals, based on dedication and effort, not speed and fitness, could reward students of all abilities, including Lubin's special education students. Lubin took action and founded the 100 Mile Club in 1993. Elementary school students are presented with a straightforward challenge: run 100 miles over the course of the school year. Students log miles before school, after school, during recess, and at community events. Milestones are rewarded with simple tokens - wristbands, pencils and medals. A year-end assembly celebrates and recognizes students who have achieved 100 miles, and those still with miles to go. Nearly 20 years later, the 100 Mile Club has stood the test of time, and has been adopted by schools in California and across the nation. The program is highly scalable and with Lubin's help, is now in place in more than 115 schools across eight U.S. states, reaching more than 30,000 students.

Red Hawk Elementary's Red Hawk Movement, Erie, Colo. - Movement and exercise are more than activities at Red Hawk Elementary; they are foundational elements of the school culture. As a new public school in the St. Vrain Valley School District located outside of Denver, Red Hawk built physical activity into the plan from day one. Using a rotating daily "movement calendar," students gain 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on a daily basis, in addition to scheduled physical education class and recess. These structured routines are taught by the professional PE staff outdoors or in the gym, and can be repeated in the classroom with student leaders taking charge. Strategically placed 20-minute blocks occur once in the morning to increase energy and attentiveness at the start of the day, and once in the afternoon immediately before math and science, the most challenging academic subjects. Favorite activities include the Red Hawk Walk, in which students power-walk along designated routes throughout the building, as well as in-class cardio and dance breaks. Each Friday the week ends with "All-School Movement," when all 460 students, faculty and staff head outside to participate in a coordinated fitness routine set to popular music.

"Identifying these school program and technology innovations is the first phase in ChildObesity180's Active Schools Acceleration Project. We will now work to replicate and expand these programs to increase quality, in-school physical activity in schools nationwide and help reduce the trend of childhood obesity," said Christina Economos, PhD, vice-chair and director of ChildObesity180, associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and a leading researcher in childhood obesity prevention.

Working closely with leading researchers and expert staff at Tufts University and ChildObesity180, National School Programs and Technology Innovation winners will participate in pilot studies to expand their programs and technologies to schools of different types, sizes, and geographies across the country.

Peter Dolan, chair of ChildObesity180, said, "These school programs demonstrate creative approaches to increase physical activity in schools. With the generous support of 13 of America's leading health plans, we are pleased to award the achievements of these teachers and parents and look forward to working closely with them to grow the programs and move toward a real shift in the nation's approach to physical activity."

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, and other related products including group disability, life, and accident coverage. Cigna has sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, with approximately 70 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

About ChildObesity180

Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP) is an initiative of ChildObesity180, an organization committed to fostering cross-sector collaboration to reverse the trend of childhood obesity within one generation's time. The ChildObesity180 membership is comprised of national leaders from the public, nonprofit, academic, and private sectors who are using their reach and expertise to drive an integrated national strategy to prevent childhood obesity. The organization is chaired by Peter Dolan, former CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb. Leading Tufts University obesity researcher Dr. Christina Economos serves as vice-chair and director and Dr. Miriam Nelson, a Professor at the Friedman School, is the co-director. Founded in 2009, ChildObesity180 is conducted in collaboration with Tufts University. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the JPB Foundation are strategic funders. The Innovation Competition is funded by a consortium of the nation's leading health plans. www.childobesity180.org

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